Quinton Jackson might just be talking himself into a future fight with Chael Sonnen as he blasts the two-time middleweight title challenger about trash talk.

The ex-champ again blasted Sonnen during a Monday interview with Bas Rutten on “Inside MMA.”

“If I see Chael Sonnen and he says anything to my face, I don’t know if I’m going to smack him or not,” Jackson said. “I don’t like the guy.”

It’s not the first time he’s made his feelings known about the outspoken fighter. In several interviews, the 34-year-old Jackson has taken aim at Sonnen’s persona and fighting skills.

“He should go someplace where people like his interviews and loves the way he talks s–t on everybody,” Jackson said in July. “I can’t stand that boy.”

Since then, Sonnen hasn’t taken kindly to “Rampage.” During a conference call promoting his turn on “The Ultimate Fighter 17″ and upcoming title fight with champ Jon Jones, he took a swipe at Jackson’s movie career, calling him a “glorified Hollywood extra.”

Count Jackson among those who think that Sonnen’s promotional skills were the reason he leapfrogged others to get a shot at Jones’ belt.

“What’s his name? Chael? Chael’s mouth gets his ass in trouble,” Jackson said. “The dude is exciting for, like, two minutes, and then you just want to turn down the volume. It’s like he practices his stuff in the mirror that he goes out and says. He’s a great wrestler. That’s all I’m going to say, because everything else sucks.

“He can’t punch hard. Look what he did to Anderson Silva. He did a great job holding Anderson down, making a boring fight with a decorated champion. I didn’t even see the fight, but I heard about it the day after the fight – Anderson didn’t even have a mark on him. Not a mark. He’s weak.”

Jackson agreed with fellow “Inside MMA” guest and ex-champ Tito Ortiz that a little trash talk is good for the sport, but only toward those you’re going to fight.

“I talk trash, but the thing is, I talk trash about people I’m actually going to fight, who are actually in my weight class,” he said. “This guy talks trash about ring girls, about people that are not even in his weight class. He talks trash about the President. Now, that’s a little bit too much. It’s very disrespectful.”

With promotional kindling already in place, a fight would seem the logical conclusion between the two. But with Sonnen tied up until the middle of next year with the reality show and title fight and Jackson apparently set to fight Glover Teixeira, the matchup could be slow to arrive, if ever it does. Jackson was very public about his desire to leave the UFC after fulfilling the final fight on his contract, which before an injury intervened was supposed to come against Teixeira at UFC 153.

Talking to Rutten, Jackson (32-10 MMA, 7-4 UFC) reiterated his desire to move on from the promotion after fighting Teixeira (18-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who called him out following a win over replacement opponent Fabio Maldonado at the Oct. 13 pay-per-view event.

“I want to see what else is out there,” Jackson said. “I want to see if the grass is greener. I just want to see it. So yes, it’s the last fight on my contract, I’m going to destroy Glover, and I’m going to put my deuces up. It’s no love lost. The UFC’s a great company; they’re doing great things for the sport. I just don’t feel like they’re doing great things for me.”

The UFC, of course, could sweeten the deal for Jackson should he stick around. The ex-champ also might be encouraged to know that Sonnen (28-12-1 MMA, 6-5 UFC) currently is one of the top five pay-per-view draws in the company. So with a piece of the action, he stands to take home far more than the pay disclosed to athletic commissions.

For now, the two are simply laying the groundwork for a fight that may or may not materialize.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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